Maria Fekter

Maria Theresia Fekter is an Austrian politician (ÖVP) and was the Austrian Minister of Finance between 2011 and 2013. Before that, she was Minister of the Interior.

On 27 June 2008, it was announced by her party that she was to be appointed as the new Interior Minister in the Gusenbauer cabinet, following Günther Platter, who became the new Governor of Tyrol. During her career as Interior Minister, she became known as a hardliner, especially when it came to immigration and asylum policies, earning her the unofficial title of an Austrian "Iron Lady". Fekter is also often referred to as "Schottermitzi" due to her family's involvement with the gravel industry.

Early life and career Fekter attended the Sisters of the Cross gymnasium in Gmunden then attended the grammar school Kreuzschwestern Gmunden. She obtained her Matura in 1975 from the commercial academy in Vöcklabruck. After graduating she worked in her parents' gravel pit and carrying business, becoming a managing partner in 1986. From 1990 to 1994 she was State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and later a Member of the National Council (Parliament) from 1994 to 2007. African Development Bank, member of the board of governors (2011–2013)